Avoiding accidental clicks

Publishers are not permitted to encourage users to click on Google ads in any way. This includes implementing the ads in a way that they might be mistaken for other site content, such as a menu, navigation, or download links.

Be careful when placing links, play buttons, download buttons, navigation buttons (e.g., “Previous" or “Next"), game windows, video players, drop-down menus, or applications near ads because they might lead to accidental clicks. Even if the layout unintentionally leads to accidental clicks, publishers may still receive a violation notification.

Drawing unnatural attention to ads includes placing Google ads in a floating box script that causes the ad to appear in a “sticky" position on the page as the user scrolls down. This type of ad implementation is not permitted.

It's important that visitors to your site are not misled in any way and are able to easily distinguish content from Google ads. This policy prohibits placing ads under misleading headings such as "resources" or "helpful links". Publishers may only label ads with either "Advertisements" or "Sponsored Links". No other variations are permitted.

Additionally, as shown below, a site's heading might be interpreted as an inappropriate ad label. Because ads in such a position might be mistaken for links or listings instead of advertisements, such an implementation is considered unacceptable. Monitor your site and its layout carefully to ensure this doesn't happen.

Publishers are not allowed to use language to lead users to click the ads, such as:

Publishers may not attempt to associate specific images with the individual ads appearing on their sites. Such an implementation might confuse users who assume that the image is directly related to the advertiser's offerings and therefore is a violation of our policies.

Publishers may not implement Google ads in a manner that disguises the ads in any way. This includes formatting neighboring content to look similar to the ads. If a publisher places ads on non-Google search results pages, there must be a clear distinction between search results and ads. Review our AdSense for search policies for more information.

In the example below, the content is formatted very similarly to the ads and it's difficult to tell them apart. This implementation is not permitted.

When placing Google ads on Flash gaming sites, we strongly recommend a distance of at least 150 pixels between the ads and the the edge of a game. When users are concentrating on a Flash game and clicking frantically, invalid clicks are likely to occur. Since each game and site is unique, some games might require a greater distance based on the type of game and how it is played. For more guidelines, review AdSense for content ads on game play pages.

Ensuring proper ad placement

Publishers may not place more than one "large" ad unit per page. We define a "large" ad unit as any unit similar in size to our 300x600 format. For example, this would include our 300x1050 and 970x250 formats, our 750x200 and 580x400 regional formats, and any other custom sized ad with comparable dimensions.

However, keep in mind that placing the maximum number of allowed ad units on a page might result in it looking cluttered. Read our optimization guidelines for tips on where to place your ads. For best practices on custom sized ad units, review our custom-sized ad units page.

The above ad limits also apply to mobile sites. In addition, two or more AdSense ads may not appear on the screen at the same time on a mobile site.

Publishers are not permitted to refresh a page or an element of a page without the user requesting a refresh. This includes placing ads on pages or in placements that auto-redirect or auto-refresh. Additionally, publishers may not display the ads for a preset time (i.e., pre-roll) before users can view content such as videos, games, or downloads.

Publishers are not permitted to place ads on any non-content based pages like thank you, error, log in, or exit pages. These are pages that visitors see on a site before potentially leaving the domain or after performing a specific action on the site such as a purchase or download.

Ads that are the main focus on these types of pages can confuse a visitor into thinking that the ads are actual content, so do not place ads on such pages.

To ensure the effectiveness of Google ads for both our publishers and advertisers, AdSense code is not permitted to be implemented in email messages or newsletters. In addition, ad code may not be implemented alongside email messages, such as web-based email programs.

Publishers are not permitted to distribute Google ads or AdSense for search boxes through software applications including, but not limited to toolbars, browser extensions, and desktop applications. AdSense code may only be implemented on web-based pages.

Google ads are not permitted in any window that is not initiated by a user's click. Additionally, ads may not be placed in any window which lacks navigational controls, including back and forward browse buttons, and an editable URL field. AdSense ad code may also not be implemented on pages where navigational elements have been removed.

Publishers are not permitted to place Google ads on sites which have more than three pop-ups. If pop-ups are displayed on a site, they may not interfere with site navigation, change user preferences, initiate downloads, or distribute viruses.

Additionally, sites using AdSense may not be loaded by any software that triggers pop-ups, modifies browser settings, redirects users to unwanted sites, or otherwise interferes with normal site navigation. It is your responsibility to ensure that no ad network or affiliates use such methods to direct traffic to pages that contain your AdSense code.

Publishers are welcome to place Google ads on password-protected pages as long as those pages comply with our program policies. When applying for AdSense, make sure to provide us with a non-password-protected page for review.

If your pages require a login and irrelevant ads are appearing, you can help improve ad targeting by granting our crawler access to login-protected pages.

If a site is in compliance with our program policies and the company or owner of the site has given you permission to display ads on their site, you may place your ad code on the same page as the other publisher's ad code. You will, however, need to contact your web hosting company or the owner of the site to obtain permission to display ads on their site. Additionally, you will only be credited for clicks and impressions on the ad units associated with your account.

Keep in mind that a maximum of three ad units, three link units, and two search boxes may be placed on one page. In addition, note that every publisher is responsible for the content of a site on which their ad code is placed. If a site is found in violation of our policies, we will notify any publisher(s) whose ad code is on the site.

You are welcome to place AdSense on any page which complies with our program policies, including hosted sites. However, note that in order to use AdSense, you might need to have access to your site's HTML source code. It is also your responsibility to check with your host and determine if using AdSense is a violation of their terms of service.